Jayson Hilchie

President and CEO

jhilchie [at] theesa.ca

(416) 620 7171 x249

Jayson Hilchie is President & CEO of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada, the trade association representing companies that develop, publish and distribute video games in Canada.

Mr. Hilchie joined ESAC as President and CEO in 2012. Under his leadership, the organization has broadened its membership to include a cross section of major publishers, mobile developers and independent studios, making the association more inclusive and strengthening its voice to government. He has successfully led multiple government advocacy campaigns in provinces across Canada as well as being the lead advocate for the industry with the federal government in Ottawa. He has represented the industry in front of Prime Ministers, senior Cabinet Ministers, as well as multiple Parliamentary Committees.

He is the primary spokesperson for the video game industry in Canada and frequently appears as the public face of the industry in media outlets such as the Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, Vancouver Sun, as well as CBC and BNN.

Prior to joining ESAC Jayson was Director, IT & Interactive Media at Nova Scotia Business Inc. There, he led initiatives to grow the video game industry in Nova Scotia, including attracting multiple international studios to Halifax and helping domestic companies make global connections.

Mr. Hilchie holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Saint Mary’s University in Nova Scotia and a Master of Arts degree in Diplomacy from Norwich University in Vermont.